Istanbul, Türkiye — The Net5.5G Pioneer Award ceremony took place at the Net5.5G Intelligent IP Network Summit, themed “Accelerating Net5.5G, Striding to Intelligence,” as part of the 10th Global Ultra-Broadband Forum (UBBF 2024). The forum was co-hosted by the UN Broadband Commission, World Broadband Association (WBBA), and Huawei.
Presented by the Arab Information and Communication Technology Organization (AICTO) and IPv6 Forum, the Net5.5G Pioneer Award honored winners of the first Arab-African Net5.5G & IPv6 Innovation Competition for their achievements in Net5.5G innovation and commercial deployment.
With rapid global advancements in Internet services, the world is at a pivotal stage of digital transformation. Net5.5G technology is shaping the future by enabling scalable, intelligent network infrastructure essential for the AI era. Key technologies like 400GE, SRv6, and network slicing were spotlighted at the Net5.5G & IPv6 Enhanced Summit, part of the Africa IP GALA 2024 in May, where AICTO and IPv6 Forum initiated the first Arab-Africa Net5.5G & IPv6 Innovation Competition to encourage live network deployment and service growth.
During UBBF 2024 in Türkiye, industry leaders shared pioneering Net5.5G IP network use cases, showcasing improvements in network quality, operational efficiency, and service expansion, underlining the global acceleration of Net5.5G deployment. These use cases highlighted how digital transformation within the industry is driving revenue from multiple streams.
The award ceremony marked a significant moment in the summit. Four carriers—Groupe Telecom Algerie, Libyana Libya, CVT Cape Verde, and Hatif Libya—were recognized with the Net5.5G Pioneer Award for their success in deploying Net5.5G infrastructure. The award not only celebrates these achievements but also serves as a motivation for other carriers to advance key Net5.5G capabilities, such as 400GE, SRv6, network slicing, and the Network Digital Map. The event attracted notable industry figures and professionals, marking a milestone in the promotion of network development across Arab and African regions.
